Electric switch mechanism



May 751929. Y T. BOCEK i i 1 1,711,770-

ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANI SM Filed Oct, 6, 1926 2 Sheets-SheefI l n n J limllilu UWM r ummm ummm l wuemoz TOM/15 500E/f.

May v, 1929. T. Bac-EK 1,111,770

ELECTRI C SWITCH MECHANI SM Filed Oct. 5, 1926 2 SheetS-Sheel 2 Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,711,770 PATENT OFFICE.

TOMAS BOCEK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT V.

DUNBAR, OF BOUNDBROOK, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application led October' 6, 1926. Serial No. 139,768.

This invention relates to electrical switch mechanism of a type particularly adapted for high tension power lines.

The objects of this invention include th provision of an improved dependable and relatively simple high tension circuit switch and operating mechanism therefor, such switch also in one form being associated with an improved grounding switch, also operated if desired by said mechanism.

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this speci-- ication.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing the invention in one of its embodiments with the high tension line disconnecting switch in closed circuit position.

F ig. 2 is a View similar' to Fig. 1 but showing the high tension line switch in open 'circuit position and with an associated grounding switch in closed position.

Figs. 3 through 7 inclusive are schematic illustrations showing in various operating positions the interlocking operating mechanism for the disconnecting and grounding switches.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a part of -the interlocking operating mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 1, a high tension switch blade of any suitable construction is indicated at 10 and is pivotally secured at Atwo points 11 and 12 on the upper ends of two insulator columns 13 and 1-/1- respectively. A suitable connection terminal 15 may be provided adjacent the pivotal connection 11 and electrically connected by a tlexible conductor to the high tension main line wire, the circuit of which is to be controlled. For cooperating with the switch blade 10 suitable stationary contact means may be provided at 16 mounted upon the upper end of a stationary insulator column 17. Suitable cooperating horn gap members 18 and 19 may be provided respectively upon the switch blade 10 and at the stationary contact 16, The stationary contact may be electrically connected by a flexible conductor 20 to a line wire as at 21.

The insulator column 17 may be supported upon a suitable vframe 22 upon which the switch operating mechanism about to be described is also supported. A grounding switch blade 23 may be pivotally mounted and 0`rounded upon the frame 22 by a rock shaft 241. The grounding blade 23 is designed to cooperate with a suitable grounding terminal 25 electrically connected to, or forming a part of, the stationary contact terminal 16.

The insulator columns 13 and 14 extend vertically in parallelism and are also movable longitudinally of themselves in parallelism but iii opposite directions respectively for actuating the switch blade 10. A pair of rockable members 26 and 27 are each centrally pivoted upon rock shafts 28 and 29 respectively, which in turn are mounted in suitable bearings upon the frame 22. Extension rods or insulator supporting members 30 and 31 respectively are secured to the lower ends of the insulator columns 13 and 14. The members 30 and 31 are each pivotally connected to the ends of each of the rockable members 26 and 27 and form therewith a parallelogram of variable shape. One of the rock shafts 28 or 29 (in this instance shaft 28) may be operatively connected with a lever 32 pivotally secured to a link member Oscillation of the link member 33 causes the rockable member 2G to be actuated, which in turn alters the shape of the parallelogram above referred to. As a consequence, the insulator columns 13 and l-t' are caused to move vertically through equal distances but in opposite directions respectively. Thus, the switch blade 10 is actuated to open or close the switch as a result of the simultaneous vmovement in opposite directions of its two pivotal supporting points 11 and 12. lith this arrangement the switch blade may be quickly and easily moved to open circuit position for providing a wide switch gap while its supporting insulator columns are moved only through short distances. Furthermore, the forces applied to the insulator columns in moving the switch blade to or from open circuit position aie exerted substantially wholly in directions lengthwise of the insulator columns. Hence, forces tending to bend the insulator columns are substantially eliminated, in fact, bending' forces such as caused by the weight of the insulators, which is very considerable for high tension insulators, are entirely eliminated by reason of their vertical position. The insulator columns are therefore not subject to bending strains or breakage even under severe operating conditions, as when the operating parts are frozen or corroded or have from other causes become difficult to operate. Since the insulators are constantly maintained in their vertical positions, the insulator petticoats are always in position to shed water, snow, or dirt particles, thus keeping the insulating surfaces in a high state of efliciency.

The insulator columns 13 and 14, together with the various operating members making up the parallelogram, are substantially evenly balanced in respect to the rock shafts 28 and 29. Inasmuch as the insulator columns for high tension lines are necessarily of substantial weight, this arrangement which provides one insulator column as a counterpoise for another renders the mechanism easy to operate manually, or if operated by a motor, it may be of a size substantially smaller than is necessary with switches where the insulator weight must be lifted. Furthermore, with the parts thus substantially balanced, they are not subject to unintended movement, and the possibility of accidental operation of the switch in emergencies orl otherwise is substantially eliminated.

For controlling the operation of both the line switch blade 10 and the grounding switch blade 23 a single manually operable lever 34 may be provided which is pivotally attached to the frame 22 in an accessible location. A connecting rod 35 extends from the lever member 34 to the switch mechanism per se. Suitable means may be provided at the lever 34 for locking the same against unauthorized operation. For example, the lever may be formed with a perforated lug 36 for cooperating with a plate 37 having openings at 38, 39 and 40. A padlock may be applied through the perforated lug 36 for locking such lug in alignment with any desired one of the openings 38, 39 or 40. As will be further explained hereinafter, when the lug is in alignment with the opening 38, the line switch blade 10 will be in closed circuit posit-ion and the grounding switch open; when the lug is in alignment with the perforation 39 the line circuit switch blade will be in open circuit position and the ground switch open, and w ien the lug is in alignment with opening 4() the grounding switch blade will be in closed position with the line switch blade locked in open position.

A bell crank member 41 is pivotally mounted upon a rock shaft 42, which in turn is mounted in suitable bearings upon the frame 22. One arm of the bell crank member is connected to the link 33 through a pin and slot connection as illustrated at 43, While the other arm of the bell crank member is pivotally attached to the link 35 at 44. The operating mechanism for the line switch blade 10 is therefore operatively connected to be actuated directly in accordance with movements of the hand lever 34, except for the lost motion connection at the pin and slot connection 43. The purpose of this pin and slotconnection, as will more fully appear hereinafter, is to provide for proper timing of the operation of the grounding switch and to also provide a means for locking the line switch blade in open circuit position whenever the grounding switch blade is in closed position or is about to be moved.

A cam member 45 is secured to the grounding switch rock shaft 24'and turns in unison with the grounding switch blade 23. This cam is formed with an extended arcuate surface 46 which is concentric with the shaft 42 whenever the grounding switch blade is in its extreme open position. This arcuate surface is engaged by a pin 47 mounted upon a lever 48, which lever is fixed upon the shaft 42 and rocks therewith. At one end, the arcuate surface 46 terminates in a hooked or stop portion 49 which is engaged by the pin 47 when the grounding switch blade is in its extreme open position. Then the hooked portion is thus engaged, the grounding blade is securely held and locked in its horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1 where it rests in contact with a stop member 50. At the other end of the arcuate surface 46 a deep slotted area 51 is provided in the cam, one side of the slot comprising a cam arm portion 52 which is engaged by the pin 47 when the grounding switch blade is to be moved to closed position. During the closing movement of the grounding switch blade the pin 47 presses against the side of the arm 52 until the cam member and the grounding blade are forced into the vertical and closed circuit position shown at Fig. 2. The grounding switch blade is locked in this vertical position by reason of the engagement of the pin 47 with the slot-ted area of the cam. During the operation of the line switch blade 10, the pin 47 by reason of its engagement with the extended arcuate surface 4G serves to securely lock the grounding switch blade in its horizontal or open circuit position.

As the pin 47 approaches the slotted area 51, the bell crank lever 41 brings the end of the link member 33 up into engagement with a locking Vor stop member The end of the link member 33 thereby is caused to engage and slide along the face 54 of the stop member 53, thus holding the link member substantially in its extreme position toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2. In this position` the line switch blade 10 is maintained and locked in its open position. Accordingly, whenever the grounding switch blade is in its closed position or is being moved lll) line and are interconnected in a manner to.

insure the proper cycle of operation merely by the operation of a single manual control lever.

rllhe cycle of operation and interlocking of the two switch blades will more clearly appear from the reference to Figs. 3 through 7. Vith the parts as shown in Fig. 3 the line switch is closed and the ground switch is locked in its eXtreme open position. It the operating handle 34 is turned downwardly through a small are, the parts will be brought into their relative positions as indicated in Fig. 4, in which the line switch is shown as being still closed and the grounding switch is still locked in its open position by reason of the engagement of the pin 47 with the arcuate cam surface 4G. Further movement of the hand lever 34, however, causes the line switch to be opened and at the same time renders the grounding switch free to be closed by the operator and brings the pin 47 into engagement with the cam arm 52 ready for t-he closing movement of the grounding switch as appears in Fig. 5. According to Fig. G the movement of the parts has continued to a point where the grounding switch is caused to be raised to its vertical or closed position and the link member 33 has been brought into locking engagement with the stop member 53. The line is now disconnected and the stationary switch terminal is grounded through the switch trame. The parts may be restored by a reverse movement ot the hand lever 34. rllhe initial reverse movement of the hand lever will bring the parts into the relation shown in Fig. 5 wherein the line switch is still open and the ground switch is also moved to open position and is ready to be further secured against movement. Continued reverse movement brings the parts to the positions shown in Fig. 7 accorcing to which the grounding switch is locked open and the line switch is ready to be closed. The final reverse movement closes the line switch and restores the parts to their positions as shown in Fig. 3. It will thus be seen that a single manually operable means is provided Jfor successively moving the line circuit blade to open position while the grounding blade is rendered free to be closed by the operator, and then locking the line circuit blade in open position while moving the grounding blade to closed position., and also for restoring the parts through reverse operations thereof.

In addition to the facilities above described for positively locking the two switch blades, it will also be understood that the ground switch blade is also at all times locked in the sense that it cannot be moved through any substantial distance independently of the bell crank member. In other words, the various edge portions of the cam member, including the slotted area 5l, are shaped so that the grounding switch blade is at all times under the control of the operating handle. This is made possible in a relatively simple manner by reason of the eccentric mounting of the bell crank lever and the grounding switch blade and its cam member. Accordingly, the force of wind, snow, or any accidental or unauthorized attempts tending to move the grounding switch blade are ineifectual. Furthermore, this mechanism gives the operator the choice of opening or closing either of the blades without disturbing the other blade irom its locked condition, or of moving both switch blades through their entire cycles or" operation as above explained.

In order to limit the opening movement of the line switch blade, a stop member 55 may be provided on the insulator supporting member 30 for engagement with the frame 22.

Thile I have described my improvements in great detail and with respect to a certain preferred form thereof, I do not desire to be limited to such form or details since many changes and modifications may be made and the improvements embodied in widely different forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broader aspects. Certain ot my improvements are illustrated in another form in my copending application, Ser. No. 139,767 filed on even date herewith. Hence I desire to cover all modiiications and forms coming within the language or scope of the appended claim.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the United States is:

A grounding` switch -for high tension electrical power lines comprising a pivoted switch blade, a ram pivoted to turn therewith, a cam operating member pivotally mounted eccentrically in respect to said cam, said cam having an ari-nate surface concentric with said member when. tlie blade is in open position and engaged by said member to lock the switch open, said arcuate cam surface terminating in a slotted portion to be also engaged by said operating member to move the blade to and Yfrom closed position respectively as said operating member approaches or recedes from its extreme limit of turning movement, and a power line switch operatively connected to said operating member to be closed thereby when the ground switch blade is locked in open position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

TOMAS BOCEK. 

